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Alex Pyne, President of the Blue Bottle Independent Union · Coffee People Podcast

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On to the show. Hey, good morning everyone.
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Welcome to the Coffee People podcast, presented as I.
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YouTube channel at Coffee People Podcasts.
1:27
Our guest today is. Alex Pine.
1:29
He's a barista at Blue Bottle Coffee.
1:31
And the president of the Blue Bottle Independent Union.
1:34
Or BBIU. The unionizing effort has been
1:38
in the news over the past year as they've gained recognition
1:41
from the National Board of Labor Relations, staged a short walk
1:45
out last fall and more recently. Because it's rumored that Blue
1:48
Bottle coffee. Is up for Sale by its parent
1:50
company, Nestle. You can learn more about the
1:53
Blue Bottle. Independent Union by heading to
1:56
Bluebottleunion. Dot org or you can scroll their
1:59
various social media accounts, which are LinkedIn this show's
2:02
podcast notes. OK, I think we're.
2:05
Ready for the show? I know that.
2:07
My cup is mostly full and I hope that yours is too.
2:11
As we get ready for this coffee people conversation with Alex.
2:14
Pine, Arista and President. Of the Blue Bottle Independent
2:18
Union. I'm excited that you're here.
2:24
I mean, I should tell you, I reached out to you because
2:27
Nestle reached out. To me to ask about being on the.
2:29
Show and I thought it was appropriate to say, well, I'm
2:33
going to reach out to them and say, hey, I mean they didn't
2:37
reach out about about the blue bottle.
2:38
Union, which we'll get to in a second.
2:40
But that was kind of like what was like, you know what, that
2:43
was on my radar a while ago to reach out, and I never did.
2:46
I think I'll do that now. And then of course, when I said
2:49
that you guys were coming on the show or that I wanted to ask
2:52
them about a question about the union, just the.
2:56
Existence of it they. Declined, so now it's.
2:59
Just you and they're not being represented so.
3:01
If you wouldn't mind getting it started by letting everyone know
3:04
who you are where you work. And and what your.
3:07
Role is. And what I've already mentioned
3:09
as the Blue Bottle Union. Yeah, hi.
3:11
So for anybody watching or listening, my name is Alex Pine.
3:15
I am the current president of the Blue Bottle Independent
3:19
Union. We're a union that represents
3:22
roughly 120 baristas across 9 Blue Bottle Coffee locations in
3:28
the Greater Boston area and the East Bay Area in California.
3:34
For anyone that's not aware, Blue Bottle is a large chain
3:38
that's owned by Nestle. They're acquired by Nestle in
3:41
2017. And previous to that.
3:44
Was a specialty coffee chain that had.
3:46
Gained. Quite a bit of acclaim for their
3:48
role in Specialty Coffee. Alex, I appreciate you being
3:51
here as I mentioned. How did you get into?
3:53
Coffee, you know in the 1st place, much less organizing.
3:57
Let's just start with the coffee part of it.
3:59
Yeah, for coffee. I've loved coffee ever since I
4:02
was a little kid. And as soon as I realize that
4:07
you can like work in coffee shops and have kind of
4:10
unfettered access, that sounded heavenly to me.
4:13
So I my first job was working as a brief at Starbucks when I was
4:17
about 17 or 18. And since then it I've worked at
4:23
a few different locations and chains of different places.
4:27
Sure. When did you get started with
4:29
Blue Bottle? About 3 1/2 years ago, so in the
4:33
fall of 2022. OK.
4:36
So I'm going to kind of jump right into it.
4:39
Could you give us a little background on one?
4:43
At what point did the idea of a union come up?
4:46
At the Blue Bottle where? You're working and.
4:49
What was your role in potentially being part of that
4:52
the organizing? When I first started, I'd heard
4:57
kind of rumbles that there were people dissatisfied and wanted a
5:02
union at Blue Bottle, so it kind of predates me in some sense.
5:07
There were a lot of issues with sexual harassment in the cafes
5:10
at the time, and I'm aware that there were other people within
5:16
the company who felt like they were often overlooked for
5:19
promotions or who felt like the company just didn't value them.
5:25
And when I found out that there were people talking about
5:27
organizing immediately I said hell yeah, I'll join that.
5:30
And the rest is a little bit of history.
5:33
I That summer there had been a Starbucks location on
5:37
Commonwealth Ave. which had been on strike for about 64 days.
5:43
And I there, I thought in the summer in 2022, there was quite
5:49
a lot of organizing going on in coffee already at other local
5:53
chains like Pavement. So the idea of unionizing was
5:58
something that was kind of on my mind and that I took a lot of
6:02
inspiration from other baristas fro.
6:05
Sure. Well, I.
6:07
I want to get back, come back around to that, so I'm just
6:09
saying it out loud. Let's talk about role models.
6:12
Could you give our audience a little background?
6:14
1 is what is a union and what is specifically?
6:17
The Blue Bottle Union. Yeah, so a union is just a you
6:25
and your Co workers coming together in order to fight for
6:30
better working conditions and to have a say in your workplace
6:35
through the power of collective action like strikes or
6:38
delivering petitions to management.
6:43
Together with your Co workers, you have a lot more power to
6:46
have say in your working conditions than if it were just
6:51
you going alone. The Blue Bottle Union
6:54
specifically, was formed after six cafes in the Greater Boston
6:59
area won a secret ballot election with the National Labor
7:04
Relations Board in May of 2024. So that that's.
7:11
Kind of my first question then is.
7:14
You can't just like go to work one day and say I'm a union.
7:18
So right. I mean, like, I'm self-employed,
7:21
but I can't just like, show up in.
7:22
The kitchen 1 morning and say I think I'm a union now I'm going
7:25
to negotiate against myself as a group.
7:27
But I I instinctively understand the value.
7:30
Of collective. Bargaining because 20 people.
7:33
Have more power than one person, generally speaking, in any, you
7:37
know, sort of discussion. How did you how do you go about
7:43
forming a union? I mean, I'm assuming there's
7:45
some you mentioned a ballot, a secret ballot.
7:48
What does that entail or what did that entail?
7:50
For you. Yeah, For us, it was a lot of
7:58
building connections and community amongst all the
8:00
different baristas in the city. Because I mean with most people
8:06
being part time and this being maybe their second job, a lot of
8:13
the baristas that work at one location downtown might not know
8:16
anyone that works at the locations in Cambridge.
8:18
So for a a big chunk of the organizing was just doing things
8:24
like holding potlucks, having coffee with Co workers outside
8:27
of work to figure out what people's issues are and to help
8:33
them recognize what you just said, that you know, the more of
8:36
us that are on board with this, then the more power we have to
8:42
win. Recognition from the company
8:45
usually requires a secret ballot election with the National Labor
8:49
Relations Board, which is the government agency which
8:52
regulates or enforces labor law for our union.
8:59
Before we filed for our election, we delivered a
9:04
petition of 50 out of 60 signatures of baristas to
9:11
management and asked them to recognize our union voluntarily.
9:15
The company declined to do that and then we did a statewide walk
9:19
out over for recognition in May of 2024 before we filed for our
9:23
election even. I'm I'm.
9:27
There's a lot of. Organizing and a lot to keep
9:29
straight so. Just because I if I work at a
9:34
blue bottle, there are more blue bottles than there are blue
9:38
bottles in the. Blue Bottle Union?
9:40
Yes. Do I?
9:40
Understand that. For now.
9:43
So there it's not a guarantee, but if I work at one of the
9:46
unionized blue bottles, I when I am hired I would become a.
9:51
Member of that union by default, yes.
9:53
Now that we have recognition, yeah.
9:55
OK, just wanted. To make sure I understood that,
9:58
but it's not necessarily like just this automatic thing that
10:01
spreads throughout a company. It has to be location specific,
10:04
correct? Yes, OK.
10:07
What we already talked about a little bit.
10:09
About the value of a union, which would be the ability to
10:14
negotiate. You know, rates, payments, pay
10:18
scale. Or.
10:19
Health benefits. Or other benefits of that kind
10:23
protections in certain certain ways?
10:26
Why would an employee you mentioned?
10:28
50 of 60 signatures. Why might someone say you know?
10:31
What I don't think that I like this idea.
10:33
Why would somebody? Be anti union.
10:36
For a lot of people, it's usually fear of retaliation.
10:43
And so people are afraid or sometimes are afraid that by
10:48
being vocal in their support for unionizing, that the company is
10:51
going to retaliate against them in some way.
10:56
Or whether that's like they won't have their schedules and
11:01
their availability appreciated and, and respected or that they
11:05
might have their hours cut and things like that.
11:09
I've also noticed that like, I think sometimes people
11:15
understand what a union is. And so it can seem like a third
11:20
party is coming in and trying to negotiate on your behalf.
11:26
I think that being independent, which means we're just not
11:29
affiliated with a larger union, helps us with that one in some
11:32
ways, because myself and everyone else that does work for
11:37
the union is currently also a brief step Blue Bottle.
11:41
Sure you're you're able. To empathize and they're able to
11:45
see themselves in you. Yeah, exactly.
11:47
Employers, Full disclosure, I called an uncle of mine.
11:51
I remember as a kid it being a big family discussion.
11:54
He had joined a union, an electrical Workers Union, and I
11:58
kind of asked him for some similar like, hey, what was your
12:01
motivation? What?
12:02
Why wouldn't I want to be part of it?
12:04
And so on. And the idea that.
12:07
There would be retaliation and for him this is 2530 years ago.
12:11
Was certainly one of the things that came.
12:14
To mind at one point. The company that he.
12:17
Was with that unionized? There were two plants.
12:20
That. They were trying to decide which
12:22
one's staying open. We'll get you.
12:23
The one that closed was the one that had the union.
12:26
And so there's no proof that that's the reason why, but it
12:30
certainly seemed. Applicable and and so that.
12:33
Retaliation or that fear? If I'm a corporate entity, why
12:39
not? Voluntarily recognize the union
12:41
we've seen stories of. We've seen quite a few stories
12:46
over the. Past few years about unionizing
12:48
through Starbucks and also Blue Bottle and other places stores
12:51
that have been closed whether it's because of the union or
12:55
not. But why?
12:57
Why do you think you know from your?
12:59
Perspective as obviously the president of the Blue Bottle
13:01
Union. That it wouldn't be an.
13:04
Easier give and take. I think in a lot of ways it
13:08
would be an easier give and take for employers to voluntarily
13:12
recognize the union and try and have a beneficial relationship.
13:19
You know, 'cause if you can improve the benefits at your
13:23
workplace, then you can reduce retention or reduce turnover and
13:26
increase retention. And I think that at the moment,
13:32
employers simply value just having complete control over
13:35
everything. And it's that they just don't
13:40
want a union around. It's much easier if you're a
13:45
large enterprise to kind of move fast and break things if you
13:49
don't have to negotiate with people over any changes.
13:54
And especially given the kind of current state of Labor law,
13:59
which is fairly weakened given the current administration, I
14:04
think that employers like in that calculation of in the long
14:09
run, is this just going to be easier or do we just go for
14:12
complete and total control? They'll choose complete and
14:14
total control, even if in the short term it means that they're
14:17
eating a lot of losses. In the current marketplace,
14:23
Nestle. Has put Blue Bottle up for sale.
14:26
At least that's the rumor. I don't speak for Nestle in any
14:29
way. How would that impact your union
14:33
if Nestle? Were to in fact sell the Blue
14:35
Bottle Company. Or would it?
14:38
A lot of it depends on when they sell and if we have a contract
14:48
in place by the time that they sell.
14:50
And yeah, without more details about a potential sale, it's
14:55
tough to say how it would affect us.
14:59
Well, you just said something that.
15:01
I didn't kind of wrap into. Our earlier chat, but you don't.
15:04
Have a contract in place. But you are recognized as a
15:07
union, so you're recognized by the national.
15:09
Labor. Board, but does that mean that
15:14
Nestle is required to negotiate with you or does that mean they?
15:17
You know. How does that?
15:19
How does that work to get a contract?
15:20
What is that? What is the ultimate goal here?
15:23
Yeah, the National Labor Relations Board requires that
15:26
Blue Bottle sit down with us at reasonable times and places to
15:30
negotiate for a first contract, but they don't require that we
15:36
ever have to reach agreement. So Blue Bottle hired Ogletree
15:41
Deacons, which is the second largest union avoidance firm in
15:44
the country to represent them. And so once a month we sit down
15:51
and cross the table from them to negotiate a first contract.
15:55
But in my opinion, I don't think they ever intend for us to like
16:00
have a settled first contract. What are some of the requests
16:07
for that? I mean the I get the idea that
16:09
it's just. It's a stall tactic, right?
16:11
A delay. I in the hope is that you would
16:15
be. Negotiating in good faith.
16:18
But if you're not moving forward at some point.
16:20
There you would hope that there would be like a line in the
16:23
sand, like arbitration situations generally come to a
16:26
head where you both present your ideas.
16:28
I don't know if that is a thing with unions, but.
16:31
What is it that you guys are? Asking for as a union of your
16:35
parent company. We're asking for livable wage.
16:40
So in both the Greater Boston area and parts of San Francisco,
16:45
according to the MIT living wage calculator, the wage necessary
16:51
to like, sustain yourself comfortably if you're a single
16:55
individual with no children is close to $30.00 an hour.
17:02
And aside from that, we're asking for consistent schedules,
17:09
protections from customer harassment and some things that
17:14
we've won have been that will be in the final contract are rights
17:19
for immigrant workers and just cause for discipline.
17:24
What does that mean? Just cause for discipline.
17:27
That the So in most states, employers are at will, so they
17:33
can fire or discipline you for any reason so long as they're
17:37
not discriminating against you for being a protected class, but
17:41
with just cause. Basically, it means that they
17:44
have to document reasons or issues with your performance or
17:48
violation of policy on a progressive discipline scale.
17:54
OK, so earlier you. Had said something that kind of
17:58
made me laugh, which. Was when you heard.
18:00
There was organizing. You were like, hell yeah, that's
18:03
me. I want to do that.
18:04
Why is that you, What motivated you, or what makes you the
18:07
right? Person to kind of take on this
18:08
challenge. Well, fortunately I'm not doing
18:12
it alone and I never have. And if, if if it was just me,
18:18
we'd be in a lot of trouble. But I'm motivated to organize
18:23
for better working conditions because I, you know, deeply care
18:26
about my Co workers. And, you know, even if I were to
18:31
never receive any of the benefits from a final contract,
18:37
I think that every barista shouldn't should be able to, you
18:40
know, make ends meet without having to worry about where the
18:43
next meal is coming from. And I think that I've seen so
18:49
many instances of managers and customers harassing friends and
18:52
Co workers of mine because they don't have a say or recourse in
18:57
the workplace that I never want anyone to have to go through
19:01
that. So a lot of why, why, why it's
19:08
something I care about is just 'cause I feel that investment in
19:11
my friends and Co workers. One of the things that I read
19:14
was I read through your union. Kind of your definition and and
19:18
your your union contract like what defines you.
19:21
And one of the things that I read was that membership shall
19:23
be open to any non supervisory full time, part time, regular.
19:27
Employee in my. Experience in hospitality, which
19:32
admittedly is a bit. Dated.
19:35
Most of the management came from people.
19:37
Who were hired as you know, just as a regular employees, whether
19:41
that'd be a server, a barista or whatever.
19:45
So I'm assuming based on my reading of that is if you.
19:48
Become a manager. You are no longer part of the.
19:50
Union. But if you did work your.
19:54
Way into those positions. What would be the motivation to
19:57
then all of a sudden become? It almost feels like an.
20:00
US versus them situation like you step over this line and now
20:03
you're part of a corporate structure as opposed to.
20:05
Where you came. From you know, most people don't
20:08
just step right into management roles.
20:11
Yeah. I mean, we've had a few members
20:14
in the time that we've had recognition be promoted out of
20:20
the unit and into a management position.
20:22
And if that's what they want, I'm always really happy for them
20:26
because I think that it's generally better when people are
20:31
promoted from within the ranks rather than outside hires.
20:36
The main reason for why we don't represent managers has to do
20:40
with the fact it'd be a conflict of interest because managers can
20:45
issue discipline to baristas and there are other labor law
20:50
reasons for why we can't include them in the same unit.
20:53
Managers can unionize, but they'd have to unionize with a
20:57
different union than us. Sure, and it would be a
20:59
different. Motivation as well, because as a
21:03
manager you are representing the interests of.
21:05
Whoever you're. Managing on behalf of.
21:08
What seems to be a sticking point?
21:10
Is it just that hourly? I mean 30.
21:12
Dollars an hour sounds like a lot of money and someone who's
21:15
lived in a lot of metro areas. So I realized that it's really
21:17
not but. Is that the sticking point or
21:22
does there? Seem to just be like a hey, we
21:24
just, we're just waiting till this goes away.
21:27
I think that generally the company is just waiting until
21:30
this goes away, but so far they have not really given us a
21:38
legitimate counter on any economics.
21:42
So their most recent package basically says that they'll keep
21:47
wages and holidays the same and they reserve the right to change
21:53
either of those whenever they want without negotiating with
21:55
us, which is pretty much a non offer.
22:01
We've made pretty significant progress in other aspects of the
22:04
contract. There are some things like the
22:09
Fair Work Week policies that we want that they're refusing to
22:13
negotiate with us. But yeah, at this point we're
22:16
getting close to where most of what we have left to discuss is
22:21
wages and other benefits. And they're they've so far
22:27
failed to provide any wage increase to us.
22:30
Sure. So there's not actually a
22:31
negotiation on that point. I'll just reiterate.
22:34
For anyone listening. I have reached.
22:36
Out to to Nestle and to Blue Bottle for comment.
22:39
So far I haven't received that, but perhaps it'll come after the
22:42
show. And so we're and we're also not
22:45
speaking for them. These are the Blue Bottle.
22:49
Union, Alex. Pines Opinions?
22:52
And my opinions, not the other way around.
22:54
We can't speak for them. You mentioned other seeing.
22:58
Other coffee shops organizing that was, you know, something
23:02
that inspired you or something that you've.
23:04
Learned lessons from How important is it to have role
23:08
models? Does it feel like a it I feel
23:11
like. Unions are just not.
23:13
As. They're just not.
23:15
As around as much, I've never been part of a union.
23:18
My wife is. Actually part of.
23:20
A union. Or was part of one for a long
23:21
time in the school district. But something that feels like it
23:25
was a a pretty prominent kind of.
23:27
Normal thing in life through the maybe sixties, 70s and 80s just
23:30
doesn't feel like it's accessible.
23:34
Anymore, how important was it to to your group to see those other
23:38
groups and how have they helped you or how have you?
23:40
Collaborated with them to learn. What it is you need to do?
23:45
I think especially early on it was important to us to have seen
23:50
what other people have been able to do because without those
23:54
conversations happening within the industry, then the idea
23:56
wouldn't likely would not have occurred to any of us.
24:00
So I mean, personally, the a lot of folks in those unions,
24:05
different organizers and such have provided me a lot of advice
24:09
on how to deal with issues that we're having or examples of
24:14
their contracts and contract language.
24:16
So that way we're not kind of going in blind when we're trying
24:19
to negotiate with the company. And yeah, I think that it's
24:25
really important to us to try and foster more positive
24:29
relationships with other baristas and organizers because
24:32
that's the only way that we're going to continue to build
24:35
density within the industry. Who pays for your efforts if if
24:41
it gets paid for I'm assuming? I saw that I think.
24:43
Dues are currently voluntary until a contract is reached.
24:47
I'm assuming there's been consulting with lawyers at some
24:50
point or somebody who represents you.
24:53
How does this all? Come from.
24:55
I mean, if you're starting from scratch, where does this come
24:57
from? Our legal representation is
25:00
provided to us pro bono by a nonprofit organization called
25:04
ION, the Independent Organizing Network.
25:07
And so they provide pro bono legal support to independent
25:13
campaigns for unions. And then I mean, myself and
25:19
everyone else on the executive board for BBAU, none of us have
25:22
ever been paid. We do all of the work for the
25:26
union on volunteer time, which can be a lot sometimes, but it's
25:34
worth it. So you're not just doing it to
25:37
get. Money in your pocket.
25:38
It's more of a we need. No, they're they're a lot faster
25:41
get rich quick schemes that I could be doing.
25:44
I say that about. Coffee.
25:45
Generally, if you were looking to make a lot of money, there
25:47
are better ways to do it. Yeah.
25:49
Than building a coffee company or a coffee business.
25:54
What? What do you need as a union?
25:56
Is there anything you? Need from people outside of the
25:58
union looking in and. If so, why should they?
26:02
Support what you're doing. I think to start with the second
26:08
part, I think people should support us and our efforts
26:13
because without an increased floor for baristas, like the
26:21
industry just isn't going to exist as we currently know it
26:26
within a few years, Like we're reaching a real cost of living
26:30
crisis within this country. And if people can't make ends
26:34
meet being a barista or a coffee roaster, you know, trainer,
26:40
anything like that, then like there's there's real existential
26:44
threats to the industry and that means you won't be able to get
26:48
your, you know, nice lattes. And for us, we're asking people
26:54
to show support by pledging on our website, Blue Bottle, game
26:59
dot org, to boycott Blue Bottle until either we have a first
27:03
contract or I mean, the companies illegally fired 3
27:09
organizers and within the past two months back in November.
27:16
And so we're asking for the company to reinstate them and
27:20
for people to boycott either until we have the first contract
27:22
or until they're reinstated. Doesn't that create a a dynamic?
27:27
That's interesting where you're asking people, not.
27:29
To come to the place where you work.
27:32
But then that also means. Sales would potentially go down
27:35
and make your workplace less attractive or less hours
27:40
available, I mean. Do you see where the balance?
27:42
Is like there is that tension. Yeah, it could be resolved if,
27:47
you know, we had get a contractor, everything, you
27:50
know, we're going to state the three.
27:53
We also went on strike back in November over other unfair labor
27:58
practices as a way to try and put that pressure on them to
28:00
negotiate. We're still waiting for them to
28:04
give us a wage counter, but. When you decide to go on strike.
28:09
Whether it's for a day or a week or however long, indefinitely,
28:13
if that were ever to be the. Case what is the?
28:17
Challenge of organizing that because you're not getting paid
28:21
while you're on strike. We've been fortunate enough to
28:26
receive enough donations and from members paying voluntary
28:32
dues that for every striker walkout we've done, we've been
28:36
able to replace the wages of the baristas that have gone out.
28:39
Because that's the main concern people have is will I still be
28:42
able to get paid or make ends meet for however long this is
28:47
going to be. The other main challenge usually
28:51
is, like I mentioned earlier, the fear element and.
28:58
Well, and I would. I'm just going to throw it.
29:00
Out there, the weather you're in, you're in New England.
29:03
I mean, it's not. It's not.
29:06
Like if you're striking in November, I mean.
29:08
Who knows what you're going to get that day?
29:10
Yeah, that that that was a bit of a challenge.
29:12
It did snow on the picket line when we're out for Thanksgiving,
29:16
but we're we're kind of used to that here.
29:22
Outside of the Union, if you're if you're out in the world, what
29:25
do you think makes for good coffee?
29:30
So I'll, I'll qualify this and that good coffee to me is
29:38
usually either something that's shared with friends or like if
29:46
we're talking about just like the drink itself, it's something
29:49
that has really great origin characteristics.
29:54
I really love single origin coffees and kind of my
29:59
preferences in them change all the time.
30:01
But so long as I can kind of tell where something's come
30:05
from, then I mean, I love it. I'll drink kind of any, I'll
30:10
drink anything really. But the best cup of coffee is
30:14
the one that I can get in my hands.
30:16
It's like, well, there's always that question.
30:18
When I ask the question I I I'm always.
30:20
Wondering if the answer is going.
30:22
To be coffee. Characteristics and traits or
30:25
experience based and it's usually a combination of the
30:28
two. Yeah.
30:29
You know, choosing to. Organize and volunteer and to
30:35
create this group. Within Blue Bottle.
30:39
Why? Why make the effort?
30:41
Why not just go? Work somewhere else that treats
30:44
you differently or look. For a job like, why it seems
30:49
like it would be hard. And challenging.
30:53
And stressful. Are there just not other
30:56
opportunities there? Is there an appeal to building
30:59
something? You know why?
31:00
Why do this for you? And you're not not speaking for
31:03
the whole union, but just for you A?
31:07
Lot of that goes back to things that I said earlier where, you
31:10
know, if I don't try and improve the place where I'm not
31:16
currently, not just for myself but anyone that comes after me,
31:21
then the industry is never going to improve.
31:24
And so it might be easier for me to go to a smaller chain that
31:31
treats people better or to try and move up within the corporate
31:35
structure. But then like, that only really
31:40
benefits me, and that's easier said than done for most people,
31:50
Within coffee especially, there's not much room to move
31:55
laterally within the industry or to get the kind of
31:59
specialization that you would need to get a a job with better
32:03
benefits. I mean, I think.
32:06
That's a challenge in a lot of industries, coffee in
32:10
particular. I.
32:13
I'm I'm thinking about. Just our culture as a whole and,
32:18
you know, bettering things for for a group instead of only for
32:22
yourself. And that's a tough thing because
32:25
I can see. Both sides.
32:27
You mentioned a lot of your union members.
32:28
This might be a second job. It might be one of two jobs.
32:31
If not, there might be the first, but it might be one of
32:33
two. There's a lot of, they might
32:35
have a family. There's a lot of other things
32:36
going on. Outside of this.
32:39
So it it is definitely a sacrifice.
32:42
I'm wondering if you have any? Piece of advice or wisdom you'd
32:45
like to pass on? To say someone listening to
32:48
this. Working in a coffee shop that is
32:50
considering joining an organization, movement or
32:53
starting one. I think the best piece of advice
32:57
that I have for anyone that's interested in unionizing is that
33:03
it helps if you treat everything that you do as kind of an end in
33:08
itself. So if you're going to try and
33:11
get to know your Co workers or have lots of potlucks and like,
33:15
you know, ride shares and things like that to try and help the
33:18
organizing effort, those things are all worthwhile to do.
33:22
Even if you never win recognition or even if you never
33:25
get a contract, because it improves morale at your
33:28
workplace. It means that you've got a lot
33:30
of new friends and a lot of hopefully people at the end of
33:34
it that can support you after that.
33:35
And that's the thing that I think I'd really emphasize is
33:40
that all the things that make for a great union effort with
33:43
lots of people participating that can when better wages,
33:48
hours and working conditions are the same things that just
33:50
improve our lives generally it's spending more time with friends
33:54
and Co workers doing things for each other and not much else.
34:00
Did we? Is there anything that I missed
34:02
today or anything else? That you would like people to
34:04
know about the Blue Bottle Independent Union?
34:08
And then also what? Is kind of the next step for you
34:10
guys. If anyone is is a brief step
34:14
Blue Bottle and wants to join our union after listening to
34:17
this podcast, you can reach out to us at
34:20
bluebottleunion@gmail.com. And our website is Blue Bottle
34:25
union.org, where we have more information about how bargaining
34:28
is going. There's a donations page if you
34:32
feel so inclined. Yeah, no, I, I I think that's
34:36
it. You mentioned.
34:39
You mentioned that you haven't received that contract yet, so
34:41
just want to clarify. Next.
34:42
The next Is there anything upcoming?
34:44
For you guys, do you have strikes in the works?
34:47
Do you planning things? Is there anything that people
34:49
should be aware of as they're looking into that?
34:52
Contract negotiation. Our next session with the
34:55
company is February 25th and 26th.
34:58
We currently don't have plans to strike, but we are pretty active
35:03
on social media on our website where we'll give updates if that
35:06
changes. At the moment, the biggest kind
35:08
of call to action is for people to let the company know that
35:10
they're going to boycott. Gotcha.
35:13
When you're out in the. World and you're not at a Blue
35:16
Bottle. Let's just say you stop and do
35:18
an anonymous coffee shop that looks pretty good.
35:21
What are you going to order? Usually black coffee.
35:24
Otherwise, I really like mochas. And if you happen to be
35:28
somewhere where you can, any advice or any recommendations?
35:33
And what you're reading or watching or listening to these
35:35
days? I recently read the book Cheap
35:38
Coffee by Carl Weinhold and I, I thought that was a great,
35:44
although condensed, you know, introduction to how coffee
35:48
supply chains and the economics of it really work.
35:53
So I'd really recommend that to anyone that's interested in the
35:56
industry kind of on a global scale.
36:00
Alex one I thank. You for spending some time and
36:03
and helping share this story and and let me.
36:06
Gave me a reason to look a little bit more into.
36:08
Unions and just the idea of it and how that works.
36:11
I feel like I should have known more than I did, but I'm glad I
36:14
got the. Opportunity to thank you.
36:16
For being here, I appreciate your time.
36:19
Yeah, thank you so much for having me.
37:00
The. Thanks for listening everyone.
37:17
Please subscribe. To our newsletter at.
37:18
Coffeepeoplepodcast.com. Cheers.
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